FFI announces 2011 course dates!

The Flagstaff Field Institute has announced it's 2011 course dates, and the new  courses are available on the website.   Enroll now!

FFI announces the 3rd Annual Yoder Scholarship

The Dustin & Kristen Yoder Memorial Foundation and the Flagstaff Field Institute have teamed to offer students an annual scholarship to wilderness medicine courses in Flagstaff, Arizona.  The scholarship honors the memory of Dustin and Kristen Yoder, two amazing young people who were killed in a tragic mountaineering accident in Peru.  Dustin and Kristen participated in multiple wilderness medicine courses with WMI of NOLS, and this scholarship enables other aspiring outdoor leaders to gain similar education in wilderness medicine.  The scholarship is made possible through the generosity of the Dustin & Kristen Yoder Memorial Foundation. 

As in past years, the Yoder Scholarship applicants were excellent, and the Yoder Foundation board members had difficulty selecting a single scholarship recipient.  Ken Yoder cited the “great quality of the scholarship applicants” when he announced that the board members “ultimately decided to give out two full scholarships.”  Matthew Jenkins and Justin Miller were the recipients of the 3^rd Annual Yoder Scholarship.

Matthew works as an SCA intern at Grand Canyon National Park.  He coordinates volunteers and works as a vegetation restoration technician.  Justin is a senior at Northern Arizona University, and he works seasonally as an archeology technician at Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments.  Both Matthew and Justin plan to pursue careers with the National Park Service.

More information on the foundation, other scholarships, and the lives of Dustin and Kristen can be obtained at www.yoderfoundation.org.

Other news...

FFI announces the winner of the 2nd Annual Yoder Scholarship

After careful deliberation, the Yoder Memorial Foundation awarded Hannah Baldwin the 2nd annual Yoder Scholarship to the January 2-10, 2009 WFR course.  As a student at Arizona State University, she balances a heavy class load with volunteering for the Superstition Search and Rescue team and her own outdoor activities.  She hopes to use her WFR skills as a SAR team member and an outdoor educator.

The decision was difficult.  Ken Yoder reported, "This was one of the toughest decisions on scholarships we have come across because of the great caliber of the applicants."  Hannah did well during the course, and she looks forward to using her new skills.

Flagstaff named to list of "10 Best Climbing Towns"
Rock & Ice named Flagstaff one of the "10 Climbing Towns to Live For" in its September 2008 edition.  Flagstaff was recognized for its "great mix of trad, sport, and bouldering" as well as its temperate climate which permits outdoor climbing "almost year-round."

FFI WFR course makes front page of Flagstaff daily newspaper

The March 2008 WFR course was featured on the front page of the Arizona Daily Sun.  Click here to read the article on the Arizona Daily Sun
website!

WMI of NOLS Instructor promoted at Grand Canyon National Park

WMI of NOLS Instructor Marc Yeston promoted to Deputy Chief Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park.  Marc will supervise all ranger operations below the rim, including operations in the Grand Canyon backcountry and Colorado River.  Congratulations, Marc!

FFI announces winner of the 1st annual Yoder Scholarship

Juliana Conley was awarded the inaugural Yoder Scholarship, and she received a full tuition scholarship to the January 2008 Wilderness First Responder course.  Congratulations, Joules!